Giants-redskins A Case Of Attrition

WASHINGTON — The Redskins are 1-3 with a lengthy injury list and, as you begin your brunch this morning, have yet to name a starting quarterback for their game against the Giants today.

If you think any of that gives Giants coach Dan Reeves a sense of security, you've probably paid for Patriots season tickets at the Lowell Bowl.

"We went into Washington last year when they had a lot of injuries and they annihilated us," Reeves said, referring to a 34-3 Broncos loss at RFK Stadium Oct. 12.

"The problem is, when somebody is out they usually put somebody else in there who can play."

The Redskins' record makes this game (1 p.m., Ch. 3) their most critical of the season. A loss and they're just about done.

"Their backs are to the wall," Reeves said. "They're like a wounded animal now, and that makes them very dangerous. We can't afford to let their intensity level be higher than ours."

The Redskins are 3 1/2 -point favorites, primarily because the Giants (3-1) are without running back Rodney Hampton (92 carries, 430 yards), who had arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday, and Jarrod Bunch, their blocking fullback who still has lingering effects of pneumonia. Lewis Tillman and rookie Kenyon Rasheed will start.

"It's a great opportunity for Lewis," said quarterback Phil Simms, who has a 13-6 career record against the Redskins. "He's a conscientious person who is going to play well for us."

The Redskins must play without defensive end Charles Mann and tackle Eric Williams, both out with knee injuries. Two other defensive linemen, Shane Collins (foot) and Bobby Wilson (knee), will try to play with injuries.

"When they played Miami [a 17-10 loss Monday night], it looked like they were going to get blown out early," Reeves said. "But all of a sudden, it was the fourth quarter and their defense had given them a chance to win."

The Redskins also have injuries on offense. Quarterback Mark Rypien, who strained knee ligaments Sept. 12, practiced last week

-- the media were not allowed to watch -- and probably will start. Coach Richie Petitbon will not formally name his starter until game time.

"I'm not going to go out and win this by myself," Rypien said Friday. "We've got to have 22 intense guys out there ready to play. We need this one. But I'll be the first to tell you I'm just a piece of the puzzle."

Also, Jim Lachey, the All-Pro left tackle, was lost for the season after a knee injury in August.

The Giants defense, ranked No. 1 in the NFL, will be geared to stop the Redskins running game. Reggie Brooks (49 carries, 256 yards), the rookie from Notre Dame, and Brian Mitchell (44-184) are formidable.

"They have guys who are very quick to the corner," Giants linebacker Michael Brooks said. "And they have a big offensive line, so those backs can hide behind the linemen until they make their move."

Linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who has a strained left hamstring, is still perturbed at being taken out of the game at Buffalo last week. A Virginia native, he gets pumped up to play at Washington. And, working against Moe Elewonibi instead of Lachey, Taylor figures to get more shots at Rypien.

"It's always a good time to go down there," said Taylor.

The Giants won six in a row against the Redskins from 1988-90, but lost both in 1991. The teams split last season, each winning on the road.

For Petitbon, replacing three-time Super Bowl winner Joe Gibbs has been difficult -- comparisons to Ray Handley already have been drawn. The one thing even Gibbs rarely did was beat Simms and the Giants.

"You certainly come in for a lot more criticism [as head coach] when you lose," said Petitbon, who had directed the Redskins defense since 1978. "We've had a lot of emotional downers with the injuries and stuff, and sometimes you lose focus on what you are trying to accomplish. But our team has played very hard, and we're proud of that."

Some noise from Reeves Reeves, wary of the crowd noise at RFK, brought out the speakers and ran practice Thursday with artificial noise.

"There are times down there when it's hard even to call the play in the huddle," Simms said. ... As a junior at Georgia, Hampton had similar arthroscopic surgery (removing part of the meniscus cartilage in the left knee) on a Monday and played the following Saturday. Defensive end Kanavis McGhee had the procedure Aug. 4 and returned to practice Aug. 17. Still, the Giants would be happy to have Hampton back for the Jets Oct. 31. ... The Redskins are 20-3 on Sundays following Monday night games since 1983